Premier League club, Chelsea, has officially completed the signing of 18-year-old Brazilian winger, Angelo Gabriel, from Santos. Angelo has agreed to a long-term contract with Chelsea, although the specific length of the deal has not been disclosed. The transfer fee for Angelo's move to Stamford Bridge is reported to be around €15m (£12.8m).
Chelsea released a statement confirming the signing, stating, "Chelsea has completed the signing of Brazilian winger Angelo Gabriel from Santos. Born in Brasilia, the 18-year-old arrives at Stamford Bridge with a wealth of senior football experience, having made 129 first-team appearances for Santos across all competitions. Welcome to Chelsea, Angelo!"
Angelo is expected to join his new teammates for Chelsea's pre-season tour of the United States. However, it is likely that he will be sent out on loan for the 2023-24 season, with Strasbourg being a potential option.
Angelo made history in the Brazilian top-flight when he debuted at the age of 15 years and 308 days in 2020, becoming the youngest player to do so. Despite his young age, Angelo has been a regular in the Santos first team, accumulating 129 senior appearances for the club.
Since the arrival of Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital last summer, Chelsea has shown a strong commitment to investing in their academy. In addition to Angelo Gabriel, recent acquisitions include Diego Moreira from Benfica on a free transfer and Kendry Paez, an Ecuadorian wonderkid who will join when he turns 18 in 2025.
Last summer, Chelsea made notable signings of Cesare Casadei, Andrey Santos, Omari Hutchinson, and Carney Chukwuemeka, showcasing their commitment to nurturing young talent. As Chelsea's new manager, Mauricio Pochettino aims to thoroughly assess every player before deciding on potential departures.
Known for his track record of developing young players, Pochettino hopes to guide Angelo Gabriel towards becoming the next success story at Chelsea.